Just What I Needed to Hear!

"Just as the keeper of the vineyard keeps his eye on the fig tree and eagerly looks for the first fruit buds, so God looks at every sinner and at each one of us.  He scrupulously keeps and eye out for what could touch our heart, and looks for the secret stirrings of repentance and conversion.  To that end he gives us time.  God knows that humans are by nature slow and even slothful, and that it takes a long time for us to become mature adults and finally to bear fruit.  It has not been given to humans to reach perfection overnight; our conversion requires much time.  Nor can we (for no apparent reason) suddenly take the wrong road.  Humans are simply that way and god completely understands this, for this is how he made us.  For this reason he waits very patiently and gives us time; he lets time do its work.

For that matter we know all too well that we can only make progress with the aid of time, by trial and error, three steps forward and two steps back.  We tend to make many resolutions which we quickly forget and which quickly go up in smoke.  Every time we begin anew and quietly take our time.  We need not be afraid if we misuse the time God the Father has so generously given us in his infinite mercy.

For all the time given us, every day and every hour, are a marvelous gift from God:  it is the time of his grace, whose intent is that we should go to him and let ourselves be seized and turned around by his abundant mercy like so many who have gone before us.

God keeps an eye on us sinners, not in order to let us die, but to give us time so that we may repent and find the abundant life.  Let us give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his love endures forever!"

~Fr. Andre Louf, O.C.S.O